The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1887-07-21

| PEELED to march to his work, forced to
keep his hands ON the 81 oulders of
a negro criminal who marched before
| him; how in the winter nights, when
the wind whistled around his cell, he
was compelled to wear his working
clothes tc keep warm how in enforc
ed silence and downcast eyes he was
made to work, to suffer, to bear in his
body the punishment of others and
how under these trials and persecut-
ions he bore himself so bravely, no
words can tell He was offered re-
lease upon the dishonorable terms of
turning traitor to his friends, and al
though his punishment was well-nigh
unbearable, he opened not his mouth,
and his knowledge was as a scaled
book. Although kind friends sympa-
thyzed, alone he was compelled to
tread the wine-press.
After ten years, in response to a
united and urgent appeal, President
Grant issued Capt. Shotwell an un-
conditional pardon, and once again he
stepped out into the sunshine a free
man.~ But shadow had been cast
athwart his lite, and he came to take
up the burden of life again with an i'm
paired constitution, the horrible recsl-
lections Of prison life and with embit-
tered spirits These were barriers
hard to beat down, in the way of sue
| cess.
Coming from the prison-cell and
looking around him to find an open
ing in which he could earn subsist-
ence and flight with the pen the bat
ties for truth, Capt. Shotwell returned
to North Carolina-a few miles only
| from where he had been arrested
and in November, 1877, conformity
with General D. H. Hill began the
publication of the Southern Home.
In 1S76-the year that witnessed the
triumph Of Democracy in North Car
olina-The Democrats Of Mecklen-
burg electing him to repre-
sent them in the State Legislature
He reversed a Republican majority
of $50. This was his vindidation.
This was the expression of the conf
dense of the people in his bravery and
honor. He did not make conspicu-
Gus member but a faithful and honest
one. His place was in the sanctum,
and in January 1878, he moved to
Raleigh and became editor of the
Farmer ana Mechanic
There is no need % speak Of the ca
reer of that paper-of its struggles
for existence, of its fights against
wrong in high places, its unparalleled
brightness and freshness as news-giv-
er, its devotion to those principles
that burned themselves into the heart
and brain of the editor They are
too well known to need comment.
His untimely death and sad burial
are fresh in the recollection of the
people of North Carolina No editor,
certainly in the recollection of this
writer, has been so loved, and the
death of no one has brought more
genuine sorrow.
Shall the story Of the life of thi.
brave and just man whose actions
"Smell sweet and blossom in their
| DUST
be forgotten Shall veil be thrown
over it?
Every parent ought to read it to
his children, so that they may be
stimulated TO noble resolve and brave
| deeds.
The fame of Mr.. Shotwell must not
die. His valor must not be forgotten.
His courage must ever be held up for
the emulation of youth His devo-
ton to the South and its institutions
give him lasting title to the CRATE :
full remembrance of Southern people.
No i; the day must never come when
any man, unrebuked, can speak dis
respectfully of man who was so much
that is noble and true
Ghe people of the State will erect a
monument to his memory-a tall and
pure shaft, emblem of his strength,
grace and purity But the recolIec-
tions of his devotion to right, his up
right character, his unselfish abound
ing love for his friends, which in life
gave him a place in the heart of all
true North Carolinians, will be fir esh
and green when the granite mo nu-
ment which will have marked his
grave has crumbled into dust.